Woman turns old cell phones into instruments of assistance

By linda denicola
Staff Writer

Woman turns old cell phones
into instruments of assistance
By linda denicola
Staff Writer

Doing good within the community is a guiding force in the life of Sheryl Ross. The 37-year-old Marlboro mother of three works part-time and also volunteers in the community doing things like participating in Little League candy sales, food drives and fund-raising efforts to support a local Jewish Community Center. When she saw an opportunity to recycle old cellular telephones and help victims of abuse, she took on that project, too.

To date, Ross has collected 225 disconnected cellular phones and has donated them to women’s shelters.

"As long as the cell phone is charged and being used near a cell tower, all a person in need of immediate aid has to do to summon help is dial 911," she explained.

Ross said people in communities throughout the region have offered her their old phones.

"My phones rang constantly after an article came out in Greater Media News-papers (March 2002). Some people had multiple phones," she said.

Ross said she was working for a cell phone company in Brick Township when she began the project.

"People would ask me what to do with their old cell phone when they purchased a new one. I knew of police departments that were collecting old cellular phones and giving them to people to use in case of an emergency. I thought I could do the same," she said.

At around the same time, U.S. Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer Kino Davis came in to purchase a new phone and asked the question about what happens to disconnected phones. According to Ross, after she explained what she was doing, he sent an e-mail informing members of the Coast Guard of her plan to help others.

Commander Lisé Lukshides of Piscat-away responded to the e-mail and began collecting old cell phones. Within a short time she had collected 125 phones.

Ross said she wants to continue to get the message out that anyone can help. All is takes is the desire to do so, she said. For information, or to donate a phone, call Ross’s cell phone at (917) 907-2918.